Are you suppose to tip the Sonic car hops? do they make below wage like waitresses or what? and is being on skates really a priority? cause next time one of them slams into my car to stop himself before reaching my window Im saying something! :-)

supposed to

I sometimes tip at Sonic I'm sure they are not paid waitress wages, but $7-8 isn't much better.

I always tip unless I'm low on cash (meaning I'm scrounging just to pay for what I purchased in cash).

The Sonic tipping threads are one of the odder traditions of TexAgs. Anyone know who started it? Funny stuff.

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I sometimes tip at Sonic I'm sure they are not paid waitress wages, but $7-8 isn't much better

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I'm always curious when people say this. Neither are all of the other minimum wage jobs...so do you tip at every one of those as well? Just wondering why Sonic people would get a tip but the services at all of the others would not warrant one?

My oldest worked there for a while. No they do not get minimum wage, or at least they didn't when he was there.

I would never tip at Sonic. Unless they start rolling around in bikini and thongs.

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I would never tip at Sonic. Unless they start rolling around in bikini and thongs.

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I'm sure you would like it much better if this car hop was in a thong...

I tip if they skate out

I grew up with my parents tipping the carhops at Sonic as well as the parents of my friends. I didn't grow up here, so I know it is done elsewhere.

Yes, carhops at sonic, like waitresses, depend on tips. Don't get me wrong, they make decent money based on tips. I tried to hire one of the carhops in my home town (college girl working her way through school). I told her the job paid 10.00/hour. She said she couldn't take the pay cut and this was over 5 years ago.

They do not get paid "like waitresses."

Tipped staff gets paid the minimum wage of $2.13/hr under the assumption that their tips make up the difference. If their tips do not cover the gap to regular minimum wage ($7.25) their restaurant pays the difference.

No one you have ever met working in a restaurant goes home with a paycheck(incl tips) that calculates to less than $7.25/hr

This thread has never been done before... and im glad you asked.

I try and tip them, but you there's no way to do it when paying with a credit card. Personally, that should make it illegal for Sonic to pay them the "waiter minimum wage".

robert

I remember going to the one in Huntsville, like 10 years ago, and when I told them to keep the change, they advised they were not allowed to accept tips. Not sure if that has changed or not.

I just wish i didn't have to worry about running over one of them when i am leaving the drive thru.

I haven't gone to the sonic in front of lowes since I saw one of their employees dipping and then spitting behind the potted plant right outside the door.

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I just wish i didn't have to worry about running over one of them when i am leaving the drive thru.

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This!

We always tip at least a dollar. Seems like the right thing to do.

Yes, always....1 or 2 bucks.

Always tip. Always. Clearly some of you posters have never been waiters.

Just called a Sonic and spoke with the manager and she said car hops make $5.25/hr and hope to make the rest up in tips (up to $7.25/hr). If they do not, the restaurant pays them the difference so they'll at least make $7.25/hr. So it's not $2.15, but it's not the full minimum wage, either.

Hope that clears it up a little.

I tip everytime

Go thru the drive thru...then you don't have to worry about it

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They do not get paid "like waitresses."

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OhhhKaaay, Scooley? And, so how is it that carhops and waiters/waitresses differ in they way they get paid?

I must of have missed the differentiation you so eloquently made, but then, I am kinda' old and slow.

Do they pool tips or does each one get what he gets? I like to know because I tip THAT person. If a restaurant pools them and I am aware, they get a lot less tip. At sonic, I don't tip unless they do something that's impressive like a trick or be cordial. If they just come out and drop off food, nah....not tip worthy.

My son works for Sonic. He works all positions at Sonic, wherever he is needed. When he is working inside, grill, fryers, fountain station, drive thru, etc....he makes like 7.25 an hour. When he is carhopping he makes 6.25 an hour. He has 2 different time cards to punch in on depending on if he is carhopping or inside. He gets to keep all tips that he makes, they are counted at end of the shift and given to him. He has good days and bad days in tips when he carhops, but he says he makes a lot more in tips when he's on his roller blades than he does when he is in shoes.
If someone is slamming into your car to stop themselves, you do need to report it, as he says that is a big NONO. If they can't roll and control themselves, they are not supposed to be on the skates.

Always tip the carhops at Sonic! and the baristas, and the kids on the Freebirds line, and the carwash people...they work hard and deserve the tips

freebirds line

I tip them. They serve you in heat, rain sleet, snow, etc.

Thanks y'all!! the input has been welcoming and helpful!

YES "Slocum on a mobile" you are correct, When my son was not skating he made 5.25 an hour, now that he skates he gets 6.25 an hour when he is carhopping.

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Always tip. Always. Clearly some of you posters have never been waiters.

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Clearly some posters have never been cooks.

If the job expects you to get tips and bases the wage because of this, why would the credit card machine not accept input for tips?

Also do the people that tip at Sonic also tip at HEB or other grocery stores for sackers (especially if they carry out). They do have differences in pay depending on if you are checking them out or sacking the groceries.

I believe the difference in pay did not coem from the expectation of tips but from "moving up". First you start as a car hop and then you move to other jobs.

Growing up I was a sacker and only about 10% of people actually tipped me. I wasn't expecting it but it was almost always older people. The funny thing was it was almost always like a quarter also. At the end of the day I had like 3 dollars in quarters in my pocket weighing me down in the Texas heat but it was better than a poke in the eye.

I actually never even thought or considered typing the carry out people at the stores!
But I see your point it is about the same, car hops make one trip to your car (usually) as to sackers!
I will usually tip a dollar or so to a car hop is I ask for something extra they have to go back to the store for. But if they forget something or its their first trip out I usually do not. I did not realize they made such low money. I personally would expect to pay my employees more especially in the dead heat of Texas!! In west Texas were I am from, the car hops were not allowed skates, and they had to make it a point to JOG back to the store from your car!!! I always tipped them. But I thought I would just ask about the tipping thing. Sometimes they act as tho they don't want it when I try to give it to them, other times they act mad if I have nothing to give them. So I was confused. Thanks y'all